초록 ▼

A container assembly is provided including a cover and a container. The cover is securely engaged to the container by means of a primary lock to prevent removal of the cover from the container during handling. A secondary lock is also provided between the cover and the container. The secondary lock

A container assembly is provided including a cover and a container. The cover is securely engaged to the container by means of a primary lock to prevent removal of the cover from the container during handling. A secondary lock is also provided between the cover and the container. The secondary lock can be disengaged only after disengagement of the primary lock. The cover is readily removed by an end user of the container assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A locking mechanism for an assembly of a cover and a container, wherein said locking mechanism prevents removal of said cover from said container during handling of said assembly, said locking mechanism being easily disengaged by an end user of said assembly for removal o

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A locking mechanism for an assembly of a cover and a container, wherein said locking mechanism prevents removal of said cover from said container during handling of said assembly, said locking mechanism being easily disengaged by an end user of said assembly for removal of said cover from said container for access to an interior of said assembly, said cover having a cover body, a cover skirt extending downwardly from a perimeter portion of said cover body, and a tear strip at a bottom portion of said cover skirt and extending around all but a circumferential portion of said cover skirt, and said container having a container bottom and a container wall extending upwardly from said container bottom, wherein an upper portion of said container wall defines an opening, said locking mechanism comprising, in combination:a primary lock preventing said removal of said cover from said container during said handling of said assembly, said primary lock being formed by engagement between (1) a lower circumferentially extending rib formed on an inner surface of said tear strip and extending inwardly from said tear strip, and (2) a lower annular flange formed on an outer surface of said upper portion of said container wall and extending outwardly from said container wall;said primary lock being disengageable by removal of said tear strip from said cover skirt and removal of said lower rib on said tear strip from said lower annular flange on said container wall, wherein a grip portion integrally formed at said circumferential portion of said cover skirt remains connected to said cover skirt after said removal of said tear strip from said cover skirt and disengagement of said primary lock, and wherein an inner surface of said grip portion and an outer surface of said container wall together define a radial fingertip-width passage for fingertip access from below by said end user; anda secondary lock permitting removal of said cover from said container and replacement of said cover onto said container by an end user, said secondary lock being formed by engagement between (1) an upper rib formed on an inner surface of said cover skirt and extending inwardly from said cover skirt, said upper rib being axially spaced above said lower rib, and (2) an upper flange formed on said outer surface of said upper portion of said container wall and extending outwardly from said container wall, said upper flange being axially spaced above said lower flange;wherein said lower rib of the primary lock extends inwardly from said cover skirt a greater distance than that which said upper rib of the secondary lock extends inwardly from said cover skirt, thereby providing increased interference in the primary lock as compared to the secondary lock;said secondary lock being disengageable by disengagement of said primary lock, insertion of at least one fingertip into said fingertip-width passage defined between said grip portion and said container wall, movement of said grip portion on said cover skirt in a direction upward with respect to said container and outward away from said container, and removal of said upper rib on said cover skirt from said upper flange on said container wall.